Get ready to kick off summer with family fun on Memorial Day weekend! Whether you are looking to go on rides in Coney Island or Staten Island, check out brand new exhibits at the Bronx Zoo, NYBG, or AMNH, go to the DanceAfrica Bazaar at BAM, play at the Splash Pad in Prospect Park, attend a Memorial Day parade in Bay Ridge, go rollerskating in Brooklyn Bridge Park, or catch a concert in Green-Wood Cemetery, we have plenty of options for you to consider!
Staten Island Mall Carnival
Thursday, May 21st-Sunday, May 31st | Weekday hours are 5:00pm-10:00 and weekend and Memorial Day hours are 2:00pm-10:00pm | $5 gate entry and unlimited wristbands are $35-40/person or purchase credits on site | Staten Island
Visit Amusements of America at the Staten Island Mall for exciting carnival rides, midway games, and plenty of delicious fair food. There is special discounted individual wristband pricing and family 4-packs available until 5:00pm on May 21st!
Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood at the Bronx Zoo
Friday May, 22nd-Monday, September 7th | Monday-Friday 10:00am-5:00pm and weekends/federal holidays 10:00am-5:30pm | This special exhibit is free with your Bronx Zoo ticket, where ticket prices start at $28.70/child and $38.70/adult | The Bronx
Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, the beloved PBS KIDS series from Fred Rogers Productions, comes to the Bronx Zoo! With the world premiere of this all-new experience, you and your family can spend a day at the zoo with your favorite characters! There will be trolley rides, fun photo ops, live performances, and more!
Cheer on the Brooklyn Cyclones at Maimonides Park
Memorial Day weekend has games Friday, May 22nd- Sunday, May 24th and the full season goes through September | Tickets start at $17/person | Coney Island
The Brooklyn Cyclones are the High-A affiliate of the New York Mets. They play their home games at Maimonides Park in Coney Island. They offer family-friendly pricing, food options, and theme days and giveaways. For Memorial Day weekend: Friday is Rockaway Neighbor Night, Saturday is Military Appreciation Day and everyone can run the bases after the game, and Sunday is Bark in the Park, the first 500 children get ice cream vouchers, and kids 14 & under can run the bases after the game.
Luna Park on the Coney Island Boardwalk
Opens daily for the season starting on Friday, May 22nd | Hours vary | Find ticket & wristband info here | Coney Island
Get ready to take a ride on the Cyclone or another thrilling ride at Luna Park!
Deno’s Wonder Wheel Amusement Park on the Coney Island Boardwalk
Opens daily for the season on Saturday, May 23rd | Kiddie park opens at 11:00am daily, adult rides open at 12:00pm daily | Find ticket info here | Coney Island
Kick off summer with a spin on the Wonder Wheel and other fun rides at Deno’s Wonder Wheel Amusement Park!
Flower Power at NYBG
Opens Saturday, May 23rd-Sunday, October 18th | Included with tickets to the NYBG, which start at $17/child and $39/adult (children under 2 are free) | The Bronx
Channel the spirit of the ’60s at Flower Power, a joyous celebration of the enduring symbolism of flowers as icons of peace and love. Immerse yourself in a groovy and colorful flower show spotlighting the ways in which hippie culture advanced closer relationships with the natural world, and explore vibrant botanical displays. NYBG’s galleries will showcase photography and visual art from the 1960s, while installations on grounds invite all of us to “come together” and be empowered to embrace flowers as symbols in our own lives. Also check out Summer of Moomin opening on May 23rd as well!
Smorgasburg presents AAPI Festival of Tea in Williamsburg and at Prospect Park
Saturday, May 23rd at Williamsburg and Sunday, May 24th at Prospect Park | 11:00am-6:00pm | FREE | Williamsburg & Prospect Park
Join Smorgasburg for a weekend celebrating AAPI Heritage Month through tea, culture, community, and flavor. From ceremonial matcha and handcrafted chai to tea-infused specials and interactive experiences, this year’s festival brings together an incredible lineup of guest vendors, resident specials, and cultural programming across two Smorg locations.
DanceAfrica Bazaar 2026 at BAM
Saturday, May 23rd-Monday, May 25th | Saturday 12:00pm-10:00pm, Sunday and Monday 12:00pm-8:00pm | FREE | Fort Greene
Taking the nation’s largest celebration of African diasporic dance and music to the street, DanceAfrica’s beloved bazaar returns this Memorial Day Weekend, featuring more than 150 vendors from around the world. Offering African, Caribbean, and African-American food, crafts, and fashion, come celebrate the rich and diverse cultural heritage of Africa and its diaspora—and see the streets surrounding BAM transformed into a global marketplace.
Bazaar Kreyòl! Memorial Day Weekend Market on Lafayette Avenue
Saturday, May 23rd-Monday, May 25th | Saturday 12:00pm-10:00pm, Sunday and Monday 12:00pm-8:00pm | RSVP here | Fort Greene
Join HCX for a special Memorial Day edition of Bazaar Kreyòl! Shop from a curated array of local Haitian vendors or take home unique artisanal goods from the HCX Boutik. Savor Brooklyn’s historic first step into the sunshine season with a cool drink, a tasty bite, and afternoon DJ sessions with Okai Musik right on Lafayette Ave.
The Cookout Party at Prospect Park
Sunday, May 25th | 11:00am-6:00pm | FREE | RSVP here | Prospect Park
Join Memorial Day Weekend as The Cookout Party takes over Prospect Park with incredible music by DJ Savage, Billy Cheesesteak and Musical Mixx hosted by Jay Juss Vibes. Expect good people, beautiful energy, cookout classics on the grill, lawn games, dancing, blankets on the grass and the kind of summer day NYC does best. Whether you’re pulling up with friends, family, your date or dolo, this is the perfect way to spend your Sunday outside. Free burgers & hotdogs while supplies last!
The Splash Pad at Prospect Park
Opens Monday, May 25th for the season | Open daily 10:00am-6:00pm | FREE | Prospect Park
The Splash Pad, named Best of New York by New York Magazine, is Prospect Park’s largest water play area to provide hours of warm-weather fun. The Splash Pad is open and free to the public for children 12 years of age and under in season. Starting Memorial Day, children can enjoy this play area!
Memorial Day Extravaganza at Pier 2 Roller Skating Rink
Monday, May 25th | 11:00am-3:30pm | $10/person in person or $8/person online admission, $8 skate rental | Brooklyn Bridge Park
Kick off Memorial Day with the ultimate family celebration – skating, characters, music, and nonstop FUN at the iconic Pier 2 Roller Rink!
Brooklyn Memorial Day Parade | Bay Ridge
Monday, May 25th | 11:00am | FREE | Bay Ridge
Come watch the 159th annual Brooklyn Memorial Day parade and memorial service. The parade will begin on 3rd Ave. & 78th Street, and proceed down 3rd Ave. to Marine Ave. up to 4th Ave. and over to John Paul Jones Park for their memorial service that includes bag pipes, a flag raising, a wreath laying by Veteran Service Organizations, a 21-gun Salute by the Veteran Corps of Artillery, and the playing of Taps.
Historic New York: Decoration Day at Grand Army Plaza
Monday, May 25th | 11:00am-12:30pm | FREE | Must register here beginning on May 18th | Prospect Heights
Join the Urban Park Rangers in learning about Civil War history and its relationship to the holiday of Memorial Day. As participants go around Grand Army Plaza, they will learn about the significance of the statuary and why we celebrate Memorial Day in May. Registration required.
Memorial Day Concert at The Green-Wood Cemetery
Monday, May 25th | 2:00pm-4:00pm | Free but suggested donation is $10/person | Reserve a spot here | Green-Wood Cemetery
Celebrate Memorial Day with live music at Green-Wood. Pack a picnic and enjoy this beloved outdoor concert in a historic setting. Green-Wood’s cherished Memorial Day concert returns for its 26th year, just in time to kick off the 250th anniversary of the United States. Grab a blanket, pack a picnic, and bring your friends to enjoy this unforgettable afternoon. We’re thrilled to welcome back the talented musicians of the ISO Symphonic Band at Third Street, led by Music Director Paul Corn and guest conductor Brian P. Worsdale. The concert will feature works that honor members of the armed forces, while also spotlighting music by some of Green-Wood’s own permanent residents. Plus, enjoy a selection of contemporary pieces by a diverse range of composers. It’s the perfect way to commemorate the past, celebrate the present, and look ahead to America 250 through the beauty of music in one of the nation’s most historic landscapes!
Go to the Beach
NYC beaches open for the season Memorial Day weekend through September 13th | 10:00am-6:00pm daily
Pack up snacks and sunscreen and head to the beach this weekend. Lifeguards will be there daily from 10:00am-6:00pm.
Take a trip to Governors Island
Hop on the ferry to Governors Island for a day of family fun. Be sure to visit Slide Hill, home to the longest slide in NYC, and the brand new eatery Six Coasts! See our full family-friendly guide here.
Photoville at Brooklyn Bridge Park
Saturday, May 16th -Saturday, May 30th | 12:00pm-6:00pm on weekdays and 12:00pm-8:00pm on weekends | FREE | Brooklyn Bridge Park
Photoville is a free, family-friendly photography festival featuring 85+ exhibitions by local and international artists, on view from May 16th to May 30th in Brooklyn Bridge Park. For more information, check out our article on this event!
For the Win: Objects of Sports Excellence at the American Museum of Natural History
On display daily | Open daily 10:00am-5:30pm | Tickets are pay what you wish for NY residents | Manhattan
If your family loves sports, you do not want to miss this brand new exhibit at the American Museum of Natural History. Discover the stories behind the objects that define athletic greatness in For the Win: Objects of Sports Excellence, spanning more than 15 sports and nearly 150 years of history. Featuring an extraordinary collection of trophies, rings, and unique awards, For the Win showcases the tradition of using precious metals and gemstones to commemorate victory.
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Updated: May 14, 2026. Main Image: Deno’s Wonder Wheel Amusement Park on the Coney Island Boardwalk
